Battle begins today for four European berths in World Cup

AFP, PARIS

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo, right, warms up with a teammate during their training session in Obidos, Portugal, on Wednesday. Portugal face Sweden in a World Cup qualifying playoff first-leg match in Lisbon today.

Photo: EPA

The battle for the final four European places at next year’s World Cup finals get underway today with France and Portugal battling to join the likes of fellow continental heavyweights Spain and Germany in Brazil.

Portugal, led by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, have the toughest playoff as they face Sweden, who have their own icon in Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading their line.

Former champions France travel to Kiev to play Ukraine and will be hoping if they qualify that it will not be in the controversial manner they did for the 2010 finals, where the decisive goal against the Republic of Ireland in their playoff was set up by Thierry Henry’s infamous handball.

The other two playoffs pit goalshy Greece against Romania, while the fairy-tale could be provided by Iceland, bidding to become the smallest country to ever qualify for the finals when they host 1998 semi-finalists Croatia.

Portugal coach Paulo Bento, who guided the side to the semi-finals of Euro 2012, knows expectations are high.

“I can understand why there might be greater expectations because it’s [the World Cup] in Brazil, although our objective would be exactly the same if it was being held somewhere else too,” the 44-year-old told the FIFA Web site. “Our level of ambition wouldn’t change, but a fact’s a fact. Outside the camp, expectations are really high about us getting there, because it’s being played in Brazil and because they’re Portuguese speakers. When we set out our long-term objectives, the main one was getting to Brazil and it’s still in our hands. Against Sweden, we’ll be tackling the game in a way that befits the situation — with belief, respect for our opponents and, more than anything, tremendous conviction that we can make it to Brazil 2014.”

Many neutrals are disappointed that one of Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic will miss out on Brazil, but the Paris Saint-Germain striker says his team deserve their place in the hat when the World Cup finals draw takes place on Dec. 6 in Mata de Sao Joao, Brazil.

“We have had tough matches during qualification, but this has only stimulated us,” Ibrahimoivic said. “Portugal are probably favorites given their team and their individuals, but we came second in a group featuring Germany and we deserve to go to Brazil more.”

Ukraine will host a France side in danger of missing out on their first World Cup finals since 1994 and keen also to erase memories of their catastrophic appearance at the 2010 edition, both on and off the pitch, where the players ended up refusing to train.

France coach Didier Deschamps — who in 1998 became the first France captain to lift the World Cup trophy as they beat Brazil in Paris — said his players were in the right frame of mind to overcome Ukraine.

“It’s played on the pitch, but it’s the head that manages the legs,” the former Juventus and AS Monaco coach said. “We’re in a state of mind of ‘challenge,’ of ‘combat.’ There’s no room for doubt, for uncertainty, for questioning.”

Ukraine coach Mikhail Fomenko has guided the team on a six-game unbeaten run since taking over in December last year and said his team are extremely motivated for the challenge at hand.

“France are very experienced and dangerous opponents, but we’re not afraid of the upcoming matches,” Fomenko said. “I think all of my players perfectly understand what we shall accomplish in the playoff encounters with France.”